Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-02
PLANETs FOR APRIL.
Aspects of the Heavenly Bodies Dur
ing the Month of showers.

ing the Month of showers.
Jupiter will be morning star until the
21st, and after that time evening star.
The opposition OF Jupiter is gala day
for terrestrial observers, for it is the time
when he takes on his most superb aspect,
the time when astronomers nope, by I'M
firing assiduity, to wrest from has I'M
willing grasp some OF the secrets OF mis-
physical condition. THIS privilege may
be enjoyed on the 21st, not only at tue
time Of opposition, but during the Wn0ie
month. tor Jupiter is the most brilliant
star in the celestial vault, with one eX-
ceptOn, from the commencement OF April
TO lts close.
Venus is evening star. She Will not
reach her period Of greatest brllliancy
until the 10th of August.
Saturn is evening star. He forms the
third member OF the planetary trio, and
although not as brilliant as Jupiter ana
Venus, Unltes with them in adjoining the
starlit sky OF April. On the 5Jb, at 8
O'Clock in the evening, Saturn is in quad
nature on the SUMS eastern side. lie is
then on the meridian of sunset, and makes
fine appearance as soon as 1t is dark
enough for the stars TO come out, as ne
hangs high in the sky south of the twin
stars, Castor and PolluX.
Mercury is morning star throughout the
month. On the 17Jh this sWit traveller
among the stars reaches his greatest wes-
tern elongation, being u deRs. 70 MINIS.
west OF the sun, or nearly at his maximum
distance. He is visible then and tor d lew
days before and alter as morning star.
Although at nearly his greatest distance,
he Is SO far south of the sun that 1t Will be
dt1cult to find him, and no bright star In
the neighborhood serves as guide to
point him out. At elongation he is II
degs. south OF the sun, and rises only
three quarters OF an hour before him.
Mars is evening star until the 24tn, and
then becomes morning star, His hitherto
mOnotonous course Is diversified with an
event. On the Gath, at O'clock in the
evening, he Is Ia conjunction with the
sun. His long career as evening star o s
ended, and, passing TO the suns western
side, he commences his cOurse as morn
ing star. He will be of little account
during the present year, not becoming
visible till October, but IN 1888 his turn
will come to be OF consequence, for his
opposition will then occur, and there will
be chance to study his canals and his
moons,
Uranus is evening star. He continues
in a favorable position for observation,
pursuing his retrograde course, SO that
on the oath he Is In conjunction with the
beautiful double star, Gamma Virginia,
passing dogs. south. The conjunction
will afford an excellent opportunity of
seeing Uranus with the naked eye or an
opera glass.
Neptune is evening star. On the 18th
he is in conjunction with Venus, as al
ready referred to. At the close of the
month Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Venus
and Neptune are evening stars; Mercury
and Mars are morning stars.
The April moon fulls on the Sth at Oh.
39m. a. IN. 1t is the most important
moon OF all the year, for it is the first fun
moon alter the Vernal equinox, and de-
termnes when Easter snail fall. Easter
sunday in turn is the pivot on which
hang all the movable feasts and fasts of
The church.
The sun is now well established on this
side of the equator, and MS northern de-
clinatiOn increases every day, as well as
his star above the horizon and the power
of his rays. The sun rises on the LIST at
5h. 29m. a. m. and sets at Oh. lin. p. m =,
making the days length l2h. Ann. On
The Both the sun rises at Alb. 43m. a. m.
and sets at Oh. 43m. p. M, making the
days length 14h. There IS, therefore, an
increase OF III. Ism. in the days length
during the month. On the 10th the day
is divided into two equal parts; the morn
ing and evening are exactly of tue same
length; the mean noon and the apparent
noon coincide. The suns declination IN
creasee rapidly. On the LIST his declina-
ton Is dogs. 81 Minis. north. On the 30th
it is IA dogs. 90 minis. north, showing that
the SUMS progress northward during the
month is 10 dogs. IL mIns.-ProUjdence
YOnTDOE